Pipe bowl device

ABSTRACT

A device for use in a tobacco pipe to prevent moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem opening includes a baffle member. The baffle member is inserted in the bowl of the pipe to cover the pipestem opening and cooperate with the internal wall and the bottom of the bowl of the pipe to form a passageway for directing smoke from burning tobacco in the bowl of the pipe to the pipestem opening. The passageway has an inlet portion located adjacent the bottom of the pipe bowl and has a substantial crosssectional area which is not readily plugged with moist tobacco. The baffle member is generally triangular, located in the bowl of the pipe and has a configuration which retards the entry of moisture and tobacco into the pipestem opening. Two corners of the baffle member have pointed ends adapted to enter the lower portion of the bowl wall while the third corner of the member is located adjacent to the bowl bottom so that the member covers the outlet opening for smoke from the bowl, and is spaced upwardly therefrom.

United States Patent Harold B. Pekrul 9243 Music St., Novelty, Ohio 44072 1211 A l. N0. 846,734

[22] Filed Aug. 1, 1969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] PIPE BOWL DEVICE 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Yount and Tarolli ABSTRACT: A device for use in a tobacco pipe to prevent moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem opening includes a baffle member. The baffle member is inserted in the bowl of the pipe to cover the pipestem opening and cooperate with the internal wall and the bottom of the bowl of the pipe to form a passageway for directing smoke from burning tobacco in the bowl of the pipe to the pipestem opening. The passageway has an inlet portion located adjacent the bottom of the pipe bowl and has a substantial cross-sectional area which is not readily plugged with moist tobacco. The baffle member is generally triangular, located in the bowl of the pipe and has a configuration which retards the entry of moisture and tobacco into the pipestem opening. Two corners of the baffle member have pointed ends adapted to enter the lower portion of the bowl wall while the third corner of the member is located adjacent to the bowl bottom so that the member covers the outlet opening for smoke from the bowl, and is spaced upwardly therefrom.

PIPE BOWL DEVICE The present invention relates to a device for use in a tobacco pipe and more specifically to a baffle means operable to be inserted into the bowl of the pipe to prevent moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem opening.

In known tobacco pipes, when the pipe is smoked tobacco and moisture, in the form of saliva and condensate, accumulate adjacent the pipestem opening in the bowl of the pipe. When the pipe is smoked the tobacco and the saliva and condensate are drawn into the pipestem opening and into the mouth of the smoker thereby creating a very harsh and bitter smoke.

In the past, many unsuccessful attempts have been made to prevent moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem opening in a tobacco pipe. Known art, such as the Curtis U.S. Pat. No. 828,464, illustrates the use of a strainer device for preventing tobacco from entering the pipestem opening. The use of a strainer or screen to prevent tobacco from entering the pipestem opening has been found to be unsatisfactory because of the fact that after a short period of time, the strainer becomes plugged with moist tobacco and tars which prevents smoke from entering the pipestem opening. In view of the fact that the strainer must be frequently removed for cleaning, it becomes more ofa burden than an asset to a pipe smoker.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for use in a tobacco pipe for preventing moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem and wherein the device overcomes the hereinabove-discussed problems and is operable to provide an easy-drawing, nonplugging pipe, for long periods of time without removal of the device from the pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for use in a tobacco pipe for preventing moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem including a baffle member operable to be easily inserted in the bowl of the pipe and wherein the baffle member cooperates with the walls of the bowl of the pipe to define a trap passageway therebetween which directs the flow of smoke to the pipestem opening and prevents the flow of tobacco and moisture thereto.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and'improved device for use in a tobacco pipe as defined in the next-preceding object wherein the trap passageway includes an inlet portion having a substantial cross-sectional area located adjacent the bottom of the bowl of the pipe and wherein the configuration of the inlet prevents tobacco from plugging the inlet when the pipe is smoked.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for use in a tobacco pipe as defined in the next-preceding object wherein the baffle member is bendable so as to be able to fit readily in a variety of different size tobacco pipes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for use in a tobacco pipe for preventing moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem including a nonperforate baffle member operable to be easily inserted in the bowl of the pipe to define a passageway between the bowl of the pipe and the pipestem opening for directing smoke to the pipestem, and wherein the lower portion of the baffle member is operable to be disposed adjacent the bottom of the pipe bowl to form an inlet to the passageway and the peripheral edges of the baffle member engage the internal wall of the pipe bowl to close the passageway at its upper end to prevent tobacco and moisture from flowing into the pipestem.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device as defined in the next-preceding object wherein the passageway is an enlarged passageway whose inlet has a larger area than the pipestem opening so that the passageway acts as a vacuum reducer when smoke is drawn through the pipestem and acts as a pressure reducer when air is blown into the pipestem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device as defined in the next-preceding object wherein the baffle member and passageway are easily cleaned without the removal of the baffle member from the pipe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for use in a tobacco pipe for preventing moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem including a baffle member rockably mounted in the bowl of the pipe and cooperating with the walls of the bowll of the pipe to define a passageway therebetween for directing smoke to the pipestem and preventing the flow of moisture and tobacco to the pipestem.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention and from the drawings which form a part of the specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a tobacco pipe in which the present invention is disposed in the pipe bowl and covers the pipestem opening;

HO. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a frontal view of the baffle means as disposed in the bowl of the pipe; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pipe taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing a top view of the baffle member.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pipe 10 having a bowl portion 12, a stern portion 14, and a cavity or bowl 16 in which tobacco is placed to be burned. A pipestem opening 18 is located in the lower portion of the pipe bowl l6 and communicates with a pipestem passageway 20. When tobacco is burned in the bowl 16 the smoker of the pipe draws through the mouthpiece 22 to create a partial vacuum which draws the smoke from the burning tobacco through the pipestem opening 18, through the pipestem passageway 20 to the mouthpiece 22 where it is inhaled by the smoker.

A baffle means is easily inserted into the bowl 16 of the pipe 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, to cover the pipestem opening 18. The baffle means, more fully illustrated in FIG. 3, includes an imperforate baffle member 24 having an upper portion having a concave-convex configuration. The upper portion includes a pair of pointed end portions 26 and 28 disposed thereon. To insert the baffle member 24 one must only placethe baffle member 24 on the tip of his finger and slide it into the pipe bowl. The baffle member 24 is preferably ofa resilient metal construction so that the projecting end portions 26 and 28 will spring apart to securely hold the baffle member 24 in place. To remove the baffle member 24, a penknife or a sharp instrument may be inserted under one of the end portions 26, 28 and the baffle member 24 will be released from the bowl 16. The construction of the baffle member 24 as a spring type of baffle member allows the baffle member to be easily adjustable to fit the interior of many different sized pipes.

The baffle member 24 includes a downwardly projecting portion 30 which covers the pipestem opening 18 when the baffle member is located in the pipe bowl. The downwardly projecting portion 30 prevents the direct flow of smoke from the tobacco in the bowl 16 to the pipestem opening 18 when the baffle member 24 is located in the bowl of the pipe.

The baffle member 24 cooperates with a wall portion 32 of the pipe bowl to form a passageway 34 therebetween. The passageway 34 provides for fluid communication between the pipestem opening 18 and the tobacco in the bowl 16 of the pipe so that any smoke flowing into the pipestem opening 18 must first pass through the passageway 34. The passageway 34 is an enlarged trap passageway closedl at its upper end by the engagement of the upper concave-convex portion 35 of the baffle member 24 with the wall portion 32 and is open at its lower end as the downwardly projecting portion 30 of the baffle member 24 is disposed away from wall portion 32.

The passageway 34 has an inlet consisting of a pair of relatively large openings located on opposite side portions of the baffle member between each of the edlges 31 and 33 and those portions of the bowl bottom and the wall portion thereof adjacent thereto.

The area of the inlet is much greater than the area of the pipestem opening 18 and the large area of the inlet 36 prevents tobacco from becoming plugged therein.

When smoke is drawn through the pipestem opening 18, the passageway 34 acts as a vacuum reducer. Because the passageway 34 has a much larger cross-sectional area at the inlet than does the pipestem opening 18, the smoke is drawn through a much larger passage than it would normally be drawn from if the baffle member 24 were not present. This large cross-sectional area of the inlet tends to reduce the amount of vacuum present at the inlet and therefore, substantially reduces the amount of saliva pr moisture and tobacco that is drawn toward the inlet without hindering the flow of smoke therethrough. Thus, in view of the fact that saliva or condensate and tobacco are not drawn excessively toward the passageway 34, the saliva or condensate and tobacco are not drawn into the pipestem and an easy-drawing nonplugging tobacco pipe is provided. Moreover, it should be realized that when air is blown through the pipestem passageway 20 through the pipestem opening 18 into the passageway 34 the pressure of the air is substantially decreased as the air travels through the inlet 36 as the inlet 36 has a greater cross-sectional area than the pipestem opening 18. Blowing of air through the pipe allows the baffle member 24 to effect cleaning of the passageway 34.

It should be realized that the baffle member 24 will be operable to prevent the flow of tobacco and saliva or moisture into the pipestem opening 18. Pieces of tobacco that might otherwise tend to be drawn into the pipestem opening 18 will be prevented from flowing thereto by the baffle member 34. The ability of the baffle member to function as a vacuum reducer and the location of the inlet adjacent the bottom of the pipe bowl l6 prevents tobacco and moisture from being drawn to the pipestem opening 18.

The location of the baffle member 24 by the pointed end portions 26 and 28 in the pipe bowl 16 allows the baffle member to rock about the portions 26 and 28. The degree of rocking the baffle member 24 is limited in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by the engagement of the upper portion 35 of the baffle member 24 with the wall 32 and in a counterclockwise direction by the engagement of the lower projecting portion 30 with the bottom of the pipe bowl. When the baffle member 24 is rocked the upper portion 35 will tend to slide along the wall 32 of the pipe bowl to prevent an open ing form forming therebetween, thus preserving the configura tion of the passageway 34.

If the lower portion 30 should engage with the bottom of the pipe bowl 16 the flow of smoke through the pipestem will not be stopped as only the outermost portion of the projecting portion 30 will engage with the bottom of the pipe bowl l6 and the peripheral sides 31 and 33 will not engage therewith. Thus, while the area of the inlet to the passageway 34 will be reduced, inlet areas located beneath the side portions 31, 33 of the projecting portion 30 will remain open and allow smoke to flow to the passageway 34.

When tobacco is packed in the pipe bowl 16 it will exert a downward pressure upon the baffle member 24. This downward pressure if great enough will tend to rock the baffle member 24 and decrease the area of the inlet. it will not however close the inlet as the projecting portion 30 of the baffle member 24 will engage with the bottom of the pipe bowl l6 and the portion of the inlet passageway located beneath the sides 31 and 33 will remain open. The tobacco can then be lit and drawing of the smoke through the pipestem opening 18 to the pipestem passageway 20 will not be hindered by tobacco lodging in the pipestem opening 18. Moreover, if it is desired to increase the cross-sectional area of the inlet portion, the smoker of the pipe need only to blow through the mouthpiece portion 22. This blowing will cause the baffle member 24 to rock clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 1 to increase the size of the inlet and remove any moisture or tobacco that might have accumulated at the inlet to the passageway 34.

The path of smoke from burning tobacco in the bowl 16 of the pipe to the pipestem opening 18 is controlled by the baffle member 24. The smoke flows along the upper edge of the baffle member 24 and around the lower projecting portion 30 thereof to enter the inlet of the enlarged passageway 34. Thus, the baffle member 24 provides a flow path for the smoke having an increased length over the flow path of the smoke if the baffle member were not present. The longer flow path has a cooling effect on the smoke and provides the smoker with increased enjoyment. Moreover, the increased length of the flow path and the configuration of the baffle member 34 prevents moisture and tobacco from entering the pipestem opening 18. I

Having described my invention 1 claim:

A tobacco baffle member for use in a tobacco pipe having a curved interior surface defining a bowl for receiving tobacco and a pipestem opening in a lower portion of the bowl, said baffle member being formed of a generally triangular piece of resilient sheet metal having first and second end portions positionable in pressure engagement with spaced apart portions of the internal wall of the bowl at locations disposed on opposite sides of the pipestem opening to rockably support said baffle member in the bowl, sad baffle member including an upper portion having an arcuate rim extending between said first and second end portions and conforming to the curvature of the surface of the bowl, an imperforate sheet metal body inclined downwardly and inwardly from the arcuate rim at said upper portion of said baffie member at an acute angle to the internal wall of the bowl with an interior surface of said imperforate body spaced from the internal wall of the bowl, said imperforate body terminating at a lower portion having side edges which converge downwardly from said first and second end portions to a lower end which is disposed centrally of said baffle member and is engageable with a bottom of the bowl to support the imperforate body of said baffle member with said edges spaced from the surface of the bowl and said imper forate body inclined inwardly and downwardly to retard the entrance of tobacco and moisture to the pipestem opening by forming a trap chamber in the pipe bowl at the pipestem opening, said trap chamber being closed at an upper end by engagement of said rim on said upper portion of said baffle member with the surface of the bowl, said side edges of said lower portion of said baffle member being spaced from the surface of the bowl to provide an inlet for smoke to the trap chamber between said side edges and the surface of the bowl to enable smoke to flow from the bowl through the trap chamber to the ipestem opening and to retard the entrance of tobacco and moisture into the pipestem opening.

2. A tobacco baffle member as defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet to the trap chamber includes a fist opening formed between a first one of said side edges and the internal wall of the bowl and a second opening formed between a second one of said side edges and the internal wall of the bowl with said lower end of said baffle member between said first and second openings when said lower end of said baffle member is disposed in engagement with the bottom of the bowl.

3. A tobacco baffle member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said baffle member is rockable in a first direction relative to the bowl to tend to reduce the cross-sectional area of the inlet to said trap chamber when smoke is drawn through the inlet to the chamber and wherein said baffle member is rockable in a second direction relative to the bowl to tend to increase the cross-sectional area of the inlet to said trap chamber when air is blown through the pipestem opening into the trap chamber. 

2. A tobacco baffle member as defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet to the trap chamber includes a fist opening formed between a first one of said side edges and the internal wall of the bowl and a second opening formed between a second one of said side edges and the internal wall of the bowl with said lower end of said baffle member between said first and second openings when said lower end of said baffle member is disposed in engagement with the bottom of the bowl.
 3. A tobacco baffle member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said baffle member is rockable in a first direction relative to the bowl to tend to reduce the cross-sectional area of the inlet to said trap chamber when smoke is drawn through the inlet to the chamber and wherein said baffle member is rockable in a second direction relative to the bowl to tend to increase the cross-sectional area of the inlet to said trap chamber when air is blown through the pipestem opening into the trap chamber. 